Water (23 page)

After several hours of touring the grounds, we came upon a small café overlooking the entire grounds of Alcazaba, the Roman amphitheatre ruins below, as well as the adjacent Castillo de Gibraltar, and the city of Malaga all set before the broad background of the deep blue ocean.  Micah ordered tapas and sangria in his broken Spanish.  The waiter seemed pleased Micah attempted the language, even if it wasn’t perfect.  A far cry from the reaction I had with the security guard at the airport when I tried communicating in French. 

Finishing up a lunch of crumbed, greasy deep-fried meats, and perhaps a little too much sangria, I looked at Micah. "Still disappointed that you didn’t go scuba diving?"

Micah held his chin in his hand, pretending to think.  "Nope.  I’d much rather follow you and your camera around than see Alex in his Speedo."

I laughed and then added on a more serious note, "Well, if we are going to be in the ocean tomorrow, it’s better I stay away from it today." 

He raised his eyebrows.

I tried to explain further, "You remember what happened when you found me?  The small avalanche?  That happens quite a bit and moving around, even if it’s in the same city, seems to help."

"Didn’t Cato show you how to control that?"

"The best advice Cato gave on that subject was to seek Shawn’s advice."

"Ah."  Micah nodded, partly understanding.  "There’s something else that may help."

"Does it involve drugging me into unconsciousness?"

"No."

"Then I am all ears."

"Okay.  You know of the four elements; earth, wind, fire, and water?" 

I nodded my head yes.

"There is a fifth element called Akasha.  It is pure spirit, and somewhat controversial amongst those in our field.  Some believe it doesn’t exist; some believe it is absolutely necessary – the one truly essential element because it harmonizes the other elements.  It is harnessed and rises mainly with emotions; desire, motivation, passion, or determination.  If you can control those feelings, you are controlling your spirit, and thus your interaction with other natural elements around you."

"So I am supposed to keep myself void of any emotion?" 

"I’m not saying to walk around like a zombie, but you can take steps to control your emotions."

"Such as?"

"Such as if you desire something – make sure you get it.  If you feel passionate about something, follow it.  Take the time to meditate, calm yourself frequently.  Feed your cravings and fulfill your wishes."

I tapped my finger on the table, "This isn’t some clever attempt to get me in bed, is it?"

"If that is what you desire—"

"Micah!"

People sitting around us turned at my squeal.  Micah lowered his head, partly to hide his smile.  "I’m just trying to help…"

"Trying to help me or your libido?"  Our voices were almost at a whisper now.

"I’m trying to help
your
libido, sweetheart."  Micah’s breath was heavy with the bitter-sweet aroma of sangria.  I inhaled the scent and followed it in with the urge to kiss him, hard.  His words resonated in my mind.  
If you desire something – get it
.  We were close enough to kiss; it would just take an inch more by either one of us. 

"Is this what you really want?" he asked.

I didn’t know, but my heart was beating loudly in my chest.  I could feel it vibrating my entire body. 

"My heart does," I whispered back.

"I know," he replied.  "I can hear it beating."

"You can?"  I furrowed my eyes and looked around.  "That’s weird." 

I leaned away from him, ending the intense moment.  Looking around, I frowned, and finally followed everyone else’s gaze down the hill.  The steady beating wasn’t coming from in my chest.  There was some sort of procession in the town at the bottom of the hill.  Large floats were making their way down the crowded streets, followed by the cadence of drums.

"What’s going on?"  I asked no one in particular.

"
Santa Semena
," said an elderly man, sitting at the table next to us.

I looked at Micah for clarification. 

"Ah.  A celebration of their Holy Week," he explained. 

I looked closer; the first float was a tall canopy with a statue underneath.  It swayed from side to side as if it would topple over any minute.  The float drew applause from the thick crowd.

"Shall we?"  Micah asked.

"Yes!"  I said, excited to see what all the hoopla was about.

Micah paid and we walked down the winding hill.  We reached the parade just as a military formation was marching by.

"Don't you want to take pictures?"  Micah asked, having to raise his voice over the noise.

I shook my head, "No.  I just want to…enjoy it."  I reached for his hand and he obliged, winking at me before turning back to the parade.  Another float was making its way toward us and the crowd pressed forward to see it.  The float was carried by men in long white robes, who walked as one, following the cadence of the drummers behind them.  It was a statue of Christ bearing the cross.  The carriers’ unity caused the statue to sway from side to side, creating the illusion that Christ was walking himself.  It was all very reverent, but instead of an awed silence, there was a lot of applause, cheering, and spontaneous singing. 

Once the float was almost directly in front of us, the robed men stopped in unison and set the statue down.  The crowd pressed forward hoping to get a better look, a touch, or something.  After a few seconds next to the float, people moved away to let others have the same experience.  Everyone got the chance to see it up close.  We were forced toward the float by the crowd and found ourselves in the front row.  Next to us, a young mother with a small child on each of her hips had her eyes closed in prayer, and the elderly couple on the other side of us stared intently, crossing themselves.  We followed their lead when they moved away.  The drums started up again and the float bearers picked up their masterpiece to move on.

A loud crack caused us to spin around, looking back at the float we had just left.  Christ was now leaning dangerously to one side as float bearers and onlookers alike clamored below him like ants trying to fix the statue.  Without hesitating, I released Micah's hand and ran to help.  Another crack, followed by panicked shouts, and the Great Lord was in a free fall straight toward the crowd.  They scattered as I continued to run forward, closing the last few yards.  Now the only thing to stop the statue was the pavement, and me.  I had no time to consider if the thing was made of plastic, glass, or ceramic.  Damned if these people were going to watch Christ shatter before their very eyes.  I skidded to a halt underneath it, held up my arms, closed my eyes, and hoped for the best.

Its weight caused my knees to buckle, but it didn't crush me.  I slowly opened my eyes.  I wasn't using any powers.  There hadn't been time to even consider the possibility.  I looked to my side to see Micah, straining under the statue, same as me.  In fact, he was bearing the majority of the weight.

"Olé!"  I said.

He started to laugh, but his back began to give out.  Not two seconds later, the crowd surged in, lifting Christ from our shoulders.  Relieved of our burden, we backed away as extra two by fours were brought in for repairs.  Strange hands patted our backs and gratitude was given in many different languages.  We bowed out, as quickly and graciously as we could, keeping a tight hold on each other. 

We finally made it to the back of the crowd and were able to resume anonymity.  After watching Christ turn the corner without any further complications, I turned to him.  "I am tired; take me home."

After a long taxi ride back, we walked into our suite, still hand in hand.  As I turned toward my room he swung me into his arms.  "Stay with me tonight."

I looked at him.  "Is that Micah talking or the sangria?"

"A little bit of both," he admitted.

I considered.  "I’m not ready."  I tried pulling away but Micah held tight.  I looked at him; very aware he had a physical advantage and probably still wasn’t thinking very clearly.  He looked at me, unblinking, for a very long time.  Then he took a deep breath in and released me. 

"I’ll wait for you."  Micah took a few steps back, turned, walked into his room and shut the door softly behind him.  I must have stood in the middle of the suite for minutes before I snapped out of it.  I was still lost in his gaze and he wasn’t even there. 

Quite the dangerous man
, I thought.  I walked into my own room, shut the door, and deliberately locked it.  I leaned up against the door, sighed heavily, and said in a hushed voice, "Olé."

Chapter 26

Boats and Fruit

The shades on my window were wide open and I watched as dawn flitted across the ocean.  I was at peace, until it hit me.  I didn’t know anything about what was supposed to happen today.  Panic replaced calm and I whipped into action.  Within five minutes I had dressed and brushed my teeth and hair.  I looked only slightly better than having just rolled out of bed.

I opened the large double doors to my suite and surveyed the living room, half expecting to see the crew there, waiting for me anxiously.  It was desolate.  I burst into Micah’s room without knocking.  He had the heavy curtains drawn shut and they were doing their job.  It was pitch black.  I tried making my way toward him using his labored breathing as a guide.  My eyes, not quite adjusted to the lack of light, failed me as I tripped over a large suitcase.  That, combined with my loud, "Umph" and the jolt of my clumsy body crashing onto the floor sent Micah flying up.  Without hesitation, Micah ran into my room, "Kaitlyn!?"

I didn’t stop him.  I didn’t have time to.  Still on the floor, I had barely turned my head to look out of his opened door and he was already in my room.  I had a direct view.  Micah’s eyes, still heavy with sleep, couldn’t adjust to the sudden brightness of the room.  Blind and a little stupefied, he tripped over clothes I left in a pile on the floor in my own haste.  His journey to the floor didn’t look much better than mine, I imagine.  Once there, he didn’t make an effort to get up.  Instead, he turned his head and looked directly at me.  "Kaitlyn?"

"Present."

He smiled.  "I see…now."

It was my turn to smile.  We stayed that way for a while, on the floor in opposite rooms sending goofy smiles in each other’s direction.  That is until we heard a door swing open then click shut, and two very red high heels stepped into our perpendicular view of the living room.  Susan.  She took a moment to stare at each of us with her eyebrow raised.

We immediately got to our feet and avoided her gaze. 

"Why…?" she started.

"Don’t ask," Micah and I said at the exact same time.

Now she raised her other eyebrow and her look turned from one of scrutiny to one of surprise, then amusement.  She cleared her throat and tried again.  "Okay.  Coffee?"

"Oh, God yes," I exclaimed with a little too much enthusiasm.  Given the rough start, I was going to need as much help as I could to get me through the rest of the day.  Susan handed us each a cup from the little cardboard tray she was carrying.  She offered cream and sugar but I passed, hesitant to let anything get in the way of the caffeine hitting my system.

"Come on you two, we need to get going.  Shawn and Alex have the boat ready.  I’ll explain what I can of the mission on the way." 

Micah jumped at her words and ran into his room to get dressed. 
Another boat.
 I just groaned and dragged my feet while I walked around the suite feigning a search for my passport.  Despite my attempts to prevent the inevitable, within five minutes Micah had all three of us piled into the elevator. 

I studied the coffee cup in my hand, and found the predictable ‘made with 100% recyclable material’ logo.  I muttered a huffy, "Of course."

Susan leaned over, looking at the cup.  "What?" 

I pointed at it.

She shrugged her shoulders.  "I go out of my way to spend money at the greenest places in town."

The elevator doors opened and Micah tumbled out, tipping a bellman to get us in front of the taxi line.

"Okay, Sis.  Give us the short version."  Micah all but pushed us into the back of the taxi.

"In a nutshell, phytoplankton are on the decline and we are going to conduct an experiment to see if we can help them."  Susan looked pleased with her explanation and took a sip of her coffee.

I looked at Micah to see if he was satisfied with that.  He looked just as lost as I was.

"How about a bigger shell; something more like a coconut?"  I suggested.  That earned me two looks of confusion.  "I mean to say can you give more details, like what is a phytoplankton, why do we care about them and how do we plan to save them?" 

The driver took a sharp right turn and we all leaned heavily toward Micah’s door, smashing him up against it.  I took that as a sign to start looking for a seatbelt and Susan did her best to clean up her coffee that spilled over onto Micah’s pants.

"Phytoplankton are organisms, microscopic plants that live in the oceans.  They convert carbon dioxide into living matter and oxygen, essentially cleaning up our air.  Since oceans cover 70% of the planet, the decline of phytoplankton would have a pretty devastating effect.  Not to mention they are the base of the aquatic food web."